Dementia is when a person starts to lose their cognitive functioning like their ability to think, remember and reason. As such, dementia can be very disruptive for the patient to function on their own. You may realize that your loved ones with dementia are not able to control their emotions very well and their personalities could change. There are different levels of dementia from severe to mild. Mild dementia is when it is just starting to affect a person’s ability to function while the most severe form of dementia is when the person has to completely rely on others to carry out basic activities to live. Dementia is much more common in older people but it is important to note that it is not a normal part of aging. Due to how common dementia is in today’s world, many people have a misconception that everyone who grows old will have dementia. However, it is not the case. There are ways to protect you from having dementia. There are memory care programs that you can look into. The memory care in Burlington, NC is known to preserve the cognitive functions of patients. The environment that the memory care team in Burlington, NC built is highly beneficial for dementia patients. Here is how they create this environment.
Having Familiar Routines
At a memory care center, the routines are well established. When dementia patients are familiar with the routines, they are more comfortable carrying those activities out. Foreign and new routines are very difficult for them to internalize. They will start to become very agitated and upset, causing them to become physical at times. It is important that if you were to include new steps or activities in the routine, you should do it gradually. Add one new step or activity at a time then repeat for a few days before adding one more new activity or step. This way, you can monitor how the dementia patients react to them. If they are not able to adapt to them well, you should reconsider if the new routine is beneficial or essential to their daily living. If it is not, maybe consider sticking to the old routine. However, if it is essential, try a new way of carrying out the activity that will cause the least discomfort.
Having Distinct Spaces
Memory care centers have distinct rooms designated for specific activities. Doing this is very helpful for dementia patients as these areas help to cue specific behaviors. Having an art or music space, family visiting area and a dining room will encourage appropriate behaviors in the respective activities. This is also why a memory care center is beneficial for dementia patients compared to caring for them at home. In these distinct spaces, the team will encourage your loved ones so that they are able to better adapt to the routines and the new environment. The aim is always to make them feel comfortable in these spaces.
